The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation mourns the passing of Dorothy Mellin, a founding member and longtime Vice President of the Foundation's Board of Directors. Since the Foundation's inception in 1992, Dorothy provided steadfast leadership, thoughtful guidance, and an unwavering commitment to the mission she helped shape. She served on the board alongside her son, Christopher Mellin, and sister, Elizabeth Driehaus.
As the sister of Richard H. Driehaus, Dorothy shared a deep dedication to the values that inspired his philanthropy. For more than three decades, she helped steward the Foundation's support for historic preservation, the arts, investigative journalism, and efforts that strengthen communities across Chicago and beyond. Her service reflected both her belief in the transformative power of philanthropy and her commitment to ensuring that Richard's vision would continue to flourish for generations.
Beyond her service to the Foundation, Dorothy led a life marked by generosity, creativity, and devotion to family. An educator who taught at St. John Baptist de Lasalle School in Chicago, she later dedicated herself to numerous charitable and community organizations and was an accomplished artist with affiliations including Oil Painters of America, the Transparent Watercolor Society, and the Wayne Art League.
Dorothy's legacy lives on through the countless people, organizations, and communities impacted by her service. We are grateful for her many years of leadership, friendship, and dedication to the Foundation's mission. Her presence will be deeply missed, and her contributions will continue to inspire our work.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dorothy's husband, Art, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends.
